From Brownsville to Camden, Get to Know Indie Artist Big Dummy

MJ here with She Bloggin. On the scene tonight joining me hailing form Camden, NJ is Artist and Entertainer Mont Polk aka Big Dummy. Big Dummy reigns as current Supreme BARs Philly champion. Before we jump right in to the music and history, please let everyone know about the name “Big Dummy”. I’m sure there are many readers out there who are just as curios. Was it a childhood name? Was it a name created specifically for your career?

Big Dummy: Mont Mont was my child hood name. The name came from Rico, the Vice President of GO Dummy music group. I was the CEO and one day he called me the BIG DUMMY and it just stuck because it made so much sense. My name was Lamont and it described my comedic personality.

MJ: Give everyone a little bit of history. You grew up in Camden, NJ which happens to be one of the roughest areas to be raised in. I discover in many interviews with artists that music saved their lives from past trauma, estranged relationships, difficult survival environments, etc. Is that the case for Big Dummy as well?

Big Dummy: I was born and raised in East New York, Brownsville, New York. I migrated there in my teen years. I was in high school and my dad died so I moved to Brownsville with my grandmother. That’s where I was introduced to the bloods, the drugs, and most importantly the music. I came to Camden, New Jersey as an adult trying to raise my children and become a solo rapper. I was in a rap group during my years in NEW YORK.

MJ: Tell us about “little” Dummy. How were you introduced to music? What was it about music that pulled you in? At what point in our life did that love and passion turn into pursuing a career?

Big Dummy: My best friend who I consider my twin took me to my first studio session. I was actually good at poetry and ended up converting that night to a rapper. The fact was that I could make people laugh with music. My first rhymes were almost battles to the general public and my boys but it was hilarious. Well it was a dream in New York something we never paid for people paid for us so when I starting coming out of pocket is when it became a career. My brother Snake ran away from home and I began smoking weed and cutting school and hanging with musicians and other rappers from Brownsville, NY projects. We began rapping in elevators and staircases as well as karaoke and making mix tapes. When I moved to NJ I was no longer a part of a group and had to fend for myself to become a solo artist.

MJ: Let’s talk about your style of music. I consider you both artist and entertainer for several reasons. One of those being your sense of versatility, another being your stage performance. Your catalog of music consists of boom bap Hip Hop, R&B, and to date club bangers with catchy beats. Not everyone can pull off musically what you have accomplished thus far in your career. Talk about that.

Big Dummy: Well like I said my music started off comical but later I wanted to create real music and tell stories but I was always told you have to be versatile. Almighty and other influential artists always had unique styles, and I felt as if I had many unique styles and didn’t want to limit myself to only one style of music. My goal is to be able to turn anything into my type of music on any genre or creative instrumental.

MJ: For all the fans, followers, and supporters out there talk about recent projects that are out now and what can be expected from Big Dummy in the upcoming new year.

Big Dummy: “Educated Fool” is my upcoming album sometime in January of next year or maybe even Aprils Fools Day and probably will work alongside Trazsh Man to do my artwork and music videos. I am also pursuing modeling and standup comedy. Also my upcoming group album “MDG” (Million Dollar Gang) will be coming out this year at the end December around the Christmas holiday.

MJ: For those that might not be familiar, you also have a savvy sense of style! Is that another career you are pursuing?

Big Dummy: Yes, modeling and fashion.

MJ: You are also part of a group. Tell everyone a little bit about your group and what’s hot right now with the group. Share some of the challenges being part of a group. Do you have a preference of performing solo or as a group?

Big Dummy: Schedules. Life and personalities are the biggest challenge with being in a group. However, I prefer the group because it feels better to be on stage with a million people opposed to performing alone. It shows “strength in numbers”.

MJ: Describe your stage performance using three words. What would you say is one thing fans leave with from a Big Dummy performance?

Big Dummy: Story line with intensity and humor.

MJ: You have shared the stage with some major artists. What artists would you like to add that growing list?

Big Dummy: I am looking to pursue comedy, cooking shows, movie appearances, and the likes. I want to show my diversification in the industry to not only be a music artist but to show my flexibility with other industrial arts.